Calendar and news

EMAIL RESPONSE DELAY

9th April - 6th May

Kate is quite the responsible one in the AQR staff department, and you will usually receive a response to any email you send to Kate straight away. However during the dates above Kate is racing across Europe so may not be quite on the ball. But be rest assured that Kate will try her darnest to ensure you receive a reply within 48hrs.

NEWS - Singletrack Reader Awards 2007

BEST HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE

AQR have made the top three for the 2007 'Best Holiday Experience' Singeletrack Reader Awards. If you think AQR gave you a great holiday experience in 2007 then you can vote by purchasing Singletrack issue 39 or voting at www.singletrackworld.com . AQR's photographer JOOLZE DYMOND has also made the short list, and I for one will be voting JOOLZE. For more information then check out www.singletrackworld.com Many thanks to everybody out there who did vote for AQR. We are really chuffed to have made the top 3.

AQR Gift Vouchers - the perfect surprise for the biker in your life

AQR gift vouchers are available all year round

Why not spoil the biker in your life by giving them an AQR gift voucher that can be used on any AQR product, such as a skills session in the UK or a holiday in the Pyrenees or even some funky AQR clothing. AQR gift vouchers include your own personal message.

AQR Technique and Skills Sessions

2008 Dates

Saturday 12 April, Saturday 17 May, Saturday 28 June, All sessions above are held at Sherwood Pines between 10am-4pm. Cost - 35 pounds or 30 pounds if you are a returning guest booking another session. Contact AQR for further information. *More sessions to be confirmed shortly.

Advanced Skills Course for 2008

same dates as above

If you have already been on an AQR skills day and have made significant progress, then it's time to advance your skills and technique further. Once the basics have been learnt and understood, then there is more to learn and more trails to conquer. The day will run simultaneously with the normal AQR skills session, so that you can return to the basics if you feel the advanced course is too difficult. Please contact jon@aquickrelease.com for further details.

AQR Luchon, French Pyrenees Season

April - November 2008

AQR are already taking bookings for the 2008 season. Please check availability before booking flights as some weeks are already full. Contact AQR for more information.

AQR LUCHON

FULL OR CLOSED WEEKS

April - Closed as Mr Potter and the AQR van will be working for the Aussie mountain bike team, and Kate will be racing. The following weeks are full - 3-10 May, 17-23rd June, 24-30 July. All weeks are filling up, and already 10 places have been taken on the Tour de France week.

EVENT - Tour De France week 2008

12-19 July

The Tour De France will be passing Luchon again in 2008. AQR will be offering a week of mountain biking action, plus the opportunity to be part of the TDF celebrations on Sunday 13th July. 14 places gone, only 2 places left, so hurry if you don't want to miss out. COST £408

EVENT - TORQ INSPIRATIONAL WEEK, including the very popular Transpyrenees

5-12 September

Bookings are already coming in for this week, which always fills up very quickly. A TORQ Inspirational week includes the very finest AQR hospitality and single track heaven, plus a variety of optional seminars for every type of mountain biker. The Transpyrenees will be an optional extra for those guests who fancy challenging themselves to a mountain bike race that caters for all fitness levels. Never ending boxes of TORQ bars and energy products will be available every day, so you can guarantee you will be in flying form all week. Contact AQR for further information. Cost £450.

EVENT - Joolze Dymond Photography Week 2008

18-25 October

The one and only Joolze Dymond will be joining the AQR Crew in Luchon in 2008. Joolze is one of the best known mountain bike photographers in the UK, but there is more to Joolze than sitting in a muddy field. See www.joolzedymond.com for an insight into the lady behind the lense. This week is for mountain bikers who are also keen photographers and would like to learn more about the art of photography. The week will involve guided riding with Ian and Kate Potter, and photography seminars with Joolze Dymond. There are only 9 places available so hurry if you don't want to miss out on this very special week. There will also be a prize for the person who can take a photo of Ian with a smile on his face...without his full face helmet on of course. Cost £450

NEWS - Church Stretton Easter Weekend

21-23 March

The annual Spring weekend in Church Stretton was re-named the Easter 'not quite' Spring weekend in 2008. Although there were severe weather warnings across the UK we still managed two days of fantastic mountain biking and as promised the sun did follow us around for most of the weekend. It was lovely to meet new guests and catch up with familiar faces too. Here are just some of the comments made about the weekend - 'Many thanks again for a lovely weekend in Shropshire. The area just never disappoints, it’s so beautiful. And the little snow blizzard gave the weekend an extra bit of adventure thrown in for free.' (Tom & Sonya) 'Just a quick note to thank you,Ian,Jon and Paul and all the team for a fab weekend, very challenging and excellently organised. Accommodation and food was lovely and you even fixed the weather.' (Kate Patterson)

NEWS - COTIC BIG DAY OUT

Sunday 2nd March

Little did we know that the Cotic Big Day Out would be held on Mothers Day...sorry Mum. AQR and the Cotic Crew, along with a lovely bunch of mountain bikers checked out the best of Sherwood Pine's single track on a fine sunny Sunday with only a hint of chill in the air. The Cotic range of bikes were put to test by the keenest of bikers on the flowing trails that weave in and out of the trees. Sherwood Pines has brilliant single track if you know where it is....well worth exploring the area with somebody who knows where the trails are as you will be left with a smile on your face, and that is an AQR promise.

NEWS - A Day For The Ladies And Their Lads

Saturday 1st March

Another successful skills day where 30 women and a few partners took part in a combined day of skills, trail side maintenance and bike set up. The crew from COTIC and TREK also assisted on the day with everybody learning new skills and making new friends along the way. AQR has been asked to run future sessions that cater for the ladies and their partners. So check this space for future dates. In the mean time some feedback on the day - 'Thank you for a fantastic day on Saturday, the coaching was excellent - your knowledge and patience knows no bounds! Neil and I had a really great time, and I'm pleased to say that we both learnt a few things! It was especially helpful for me to meet up with other women who struggle with confidence on trails, and it was nice to have it confirmed for me that I am not on my own, nor am I doing anything 'wrong' as it were.' (Alaine & Neil Large)

NEWS - TORQ Winter Training Camp

21-28 February

AQR's Kate Potter has returned from Spain as fit as a fiddle after 8 fun filled days guiding and training on the TORQ Fitness Camp. 28 people from across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and America joined TORQ's Matt Hart and Anthony Rowland and Kate for long days on the bike in glorious sunshine. The training camp will be on again next year and already there is interest. As this trip was fully booked in 2008 further details about the TORQ winter training camp will be up on our website in the near future. Some feedback on the week - 'One of the best cycling experiences I've had, amazing location and riding. Already trying to persuade friends to come next year and if Matt does two weeks I will be out for both. I will be trying to get to Luchon in September too for the Transpyrenees.' (Stephen Corbyn)

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